Fastener for cable conveyor belt

ABSTRACT

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a fastener is provided for securing to an end of a conveyor belt having cables. The fastener comprises a crimp configured to be fixed to a conveyor belt cable and a connector. The connector has a unitary, one-piece fastener body with an upper portion for being disposed adjacent an upper surface of the conveyor belt end and a lower portion for being disposed adjacent a lower surface of the conveyor belt end. The upper and lower portions are spaced apart to receive the crimp therebetween and permit the conveyor belt cable to extend in an outboard direction between the upper and lower portions. The connector includes a stop arranged to block inboard movement of the crimp and the conveyor belt cable fixed thereto.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/744,458, filed Oct. 11, 2018, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

This disclosure relates to fasteners for conveyor belts and, morespecifically, to fasteners for conveyor belts containing cables.

BACKGROUND

Steel cable conveyor belts contain rubber and cables embedded in therubber that extend the length of the conveyor belt. The steel cablesoften have a diameter in the range of 3 mm to 13 mm. The cables providetensile strength to the conveyor belt as the conveyor belt is loadedwith conveyed material and goes over and around pulleys along the pathof the conveyor belt. The tension in each cable is shared with nearbycables by rubber that extends between the cables and which is placed inshear as the cables are placed in tension.

Steel cable conveyor belts are typically used in heavy duty applicationsthat involve material conveyed on the conveyor belt being measured intons, the conveyor belt can extend a half mile or more, and the conveyorbelt being four feet wide or more. Steel cable conveyor belts must havehigh strength to withstand these applications and have working loadratings that range from 800 pounds per inch width (PIW) to 8,500 PIW.Given the size and construction of steel cable conveyor belts, it isoften difficult to repair a steel cable belt when the belt is damaged.Steel cable conveyor belts may be damaged by, for example, a very heavyobject falling onto the conveyor belt or an object tearing the belt.

Connecting the ends of a new steel cable conveyor belt, or repairing aseverely damaged steel cable conveyor belt is a complicated process thatrequires a high degree of skill, specialized tools, and a large amountof time. Conventional installation and repair protocols involve afacility shutting down the conveyor and requesting a specialized teamvisit the facility to install or repair the conveyor belt. Facilitiesutilizing steel cable conveyor belts are often in remote areas such thatit may be several days before a team can reach the facility.

For a repair, when the repair team arrives at the facility, a temporaryshelter is erected to protect the damaged section of the conveyor beltfrom the environment. The damaged section of belting is identified andthe entire damaged section is typically removed by cutting the sectionout completely. This leaves the ends of the conveyor belt to either bejoined together with a single splice or joined together with a newlength of belt (sometimes referred to as a “saddle”). When a saddle isused to join the ends, the repair operation involves creating twosplices, i.e., one splice between one belt end and the saddle andanother belt splice between the other belt end and the saddle.

To prepare the conveyor belt for splicing, the team first pulls off atop cover of the belt at one of the freshly cut ends of the remainingundamaged conveyor belt, separates the cables from the rubber of a lowercover of the conveyor belt at the one end, and pulls off the lower coverat the one end. Any rubber remaining on the cables is trimmed off byhand. The cables are then cut to have lengths according to spliceinstructions from the steel cable belt manufacturer. The preparationprocess is repeated at the other end of the conveyor belt.

The team positions a lower platen of a vulcanizing press below theconveyor belt ends. Vulcanizing presses for steel cable conveyor beltsare often very large and require a crane to lift the vulcanizing pressinto position. The cables of the conveyor belt ends are cleaned andspecialized cement is applied to the cables to prepare the cables tobond with the rubber of the splice. Next, a lower cover of the splice ispositioned below the cables and the cables are arranged in a patternaccording to the splice instructions from the conveyor beltmanufacturer. Uncured rubber noodles and gap filler are used to fill theareas between the cables. An upper cover of the splice is thenpositioned on the cables.

Using a crane, the upper platen of the vulcanizing press is positionedon the upper cover to sandwich the upper cover, steel cables, and lowercover between the upper and lower platens of the press. The vulcanizingpress is operated to raise the temperature of the splice to apredetermined temperature and compress the splice with a predeterminedpressure. After the vulcanization process is complete, the team uses thecrane to remove the upper platen. The splice is lifted off of the lowerplaten so that the splice may cool. The lower platen is subsequentlyremoved from the conveyor belt and the conveyor belt is ready for use.For higher tensions, splice length can be upwards of 15 feet or more andrequire multiple vulcanizing cycles as the presses are not long enoughto cook the entire splice length and must be moved longitudinally alongthe splice length.

As will be appreciated, the conventional approach for repairing a steelcable conveyor belt is labor and time intensive and may take severaldays to get the conveyor belt up and running again. This downtimeadversely affects the productivity of the facility, especially forlarge-scale operations that depend on the conveyor belt to carry tons ofaggregate or other material every hour.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a fastener isprovided for securing to an end of a conveyor belt having cables. Thefastener includes a crimp configured to be fixed to a conveyor beltcable and a connector having a unitary, one-piece fastener body. Thefastener body has an upper portion for being disposed adjacent an uppersurface of the conveyor belt end and a lower portion for being disposedadjacent a lower surface of the conveyor belt end. The upper and lowerportions of the fastener body are spaced apart to receive the crimptherebetween and permit the conveyor belt cable to extend in an outboarddirection between the upper and lower portions. The connector includes astop of the connector arranged to block inboard movement of the crimpand the conveyor belt cable fixed thereto. In this manner, the fastenermay be used to join the ends of a conveyor belt having cables. Thefastener may thereby reduce downtime at a facility by permitting atemporary repair of the conveyor belt without the use of a vulcanizationpress.

The present disclosure also provides a fastener for a conveyor belt endhaving a longitudinal cable embedded in belt material. The fastenerincludes a crimp configured to be secured to the cable and a connectorhaving a fastener body. The fastener body has upper and lower membershaving ends for being positioned adjacent the belt material. The upperand lower members of the fastener body have a gap therebetween thatpermits the cable to extend longitudinally between and spaced from theupper and lower members. The connector includes a stop arranged to blockmovement of the crimp and cable fixed thereto toward the ends of theupper and lower members in the gap between the upper and lower members.The upper and lower members of the fastener body are sized to provide alongitudinal spacing between the ends of the upper and lower members andthe crimp. The longitudinal spacing permits the cable to have a strainrelief length between the ends of the upper and lower members and thecrimp. In the strain relief length of the cable, the wires of the cablemay shift relative to one another to relieve stress as the cable bends,such as when the fastener and conveyor belt end travel around a pulley.The ability of the wires of the cable to shift and relieve strain, ormove to a position of a lower stress state, increases the durability ofthe connection between the fastener and the cable, protects the cable inthe belt, and improves the strength of a splice utilizing the fastener.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a fasteneris provided for securing to a conveyor belt end having a cable. Thefastener includes a crimp configured to be fixed to the cable and afastener body. The fastener body has a longitudinally extending upperplate portion, a longitudinally extending lower plate portion, and aloop portion connecting the upper and lower plate portions. The fastenerincludes a stop body configured to fit between the upper and lower plateportions of the fastener body and abut the crimp with the crimplongitudinally intermediate the stop body and the loop portion. Thefastener further includes an attachment member configured to extendthrough apertures of the upper and lower plate portions of the fastenerbody and clamp the upper and lower plate portions to the stop body sothat the upper and lower plate portions resist movement of the stopbody. The stop body abuts the crimp to take up the tension from thecable and the attachment member holds the stop body in clampedengagement in the fastener body. With the fastener body connected to thecable, a hinge pin may be advanced through the loop. In this manner, thefastener provides a durable construct for being attached to the conveyorbelt cable that may be used to form a mechanical splice between conveyorbelt ends.

The present disclosure also provides a method of securing a fastener toan end of a conveyor belt having cables. The method includes applying acrimp to one of the cables and positioning a stop body on the one cableadjacent the crimp. The method further includes fitting the crimp andstop body between upper and lower portions of a fastener body andsecuring the fastener body to the stop body. The fastener body has aloop connecting the upper and lower portions for receiving a hinge pin.The method permits a mechanical fastener to be secured to a cable of aconveyor belt end and used to form a splice with the other conveyor beltend, without having to utilize a large vulcanizing press.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a splice including fasteners joined toconveyor belt ends and a hinge pin extending through interlaced loops ofthe fasteners;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one of the fasteners of FIG. 1 showing afastener body, ferrules, a ferrule support, and bolts;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the fastener body of FIG. 2 showing anupper plate, a lower plate, and aligned openings of the upper and lowerplates that receive the bolts;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the fastener body of FIG. 3 showinga pair of countersinks and a ridge therebetween of each of the upperplate and the lower plate, the countersinks and ridges extending intothe gap between facing surfaces of the upper and lower plates;

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of the fastener body of FIG. 3 showingthe loops connecting the upper plate and the lower plate;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the fastener body of FIG. 3 showingdiametrically opposed recesses in the countersinks of the lower platefor receiving protrusions of nuts that engage the bolts;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the fastener of FIG. 2 with the fastenerbody removed to show one of the bolts extending through an opening ofthe ferrule support;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of one of the ferrules, one of thebolts, the ferrule support, and one of the nuts showing the ferrulesabutting the ferrule support;

FIG. 9 is an end elevational view of the assembly of FIG. 8 showingthrough openings of the ferrule support aligned with through bores ofthe ferrules to allow belt cables to extend out from the belt, throughthe through openings of the ferrule support, and into the ferrules;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the ferrule support of FIG. 9 showing athrough opening of the ferrule support that receives one of the bolts;

FIG. 11 is a bottom plan view of the ferrule support of FIG. 10 showingseats of the ferrule support that receive the cables;

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of a portion of the splice and conveyor beltends of FIG. 1 showing loops of the fasteners laced about the hinge pin;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken across line 13-13 of FIG. 12showing fasteners secured on the conveyor belt ends and cables of theconveyor belt ends extending through the ferrule supports into theferrules of the fasteners;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of another splice for joining conveyorbelt ends;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of one of the fasteners of the splice ofFIG. 14 showing a longitudinal bore for receiving a cable of one of theconveyor belt ends and set screws for securing the cable within thefastener;

FIG. 16 is a top plan view of a fastener body of the fastener of FIG. 15showing two rows of apertures for receiving the set screws;

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken across line 17-17 of FIG. 16showing the first row of apertures opening to the bore of the fastenerbody;

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken across line 18-18 of FIG. 16showing the orientation of an aperture of the second row of aperturesthat opens to the bore of the fastener body and permits the set screw inthe aperture to press the cable against a lower wall of the fastenerbody across the bore from the aperture;

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken across line 19-19 in FIG. 16showing the orientation of an aperture of the first row of aperturesthat permits the set screw therein to enter the bore and press the cableagainst a lower wall of the fastener body across the bore from theaperture;

FIG. 20 is an elevational view of one of the set screws of the fastenerof FIG. 15 showing a lower nose of the set screw;

FIG. 21 is a top plan view of a portion of the splice of FIG. 14 showingloops of the fasteners laced about the hinge pin;

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view taken across line 22-22 in FIG. 21showing set screws of the fasteners tightened into engagement withcables of the conveyor belt ends;

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view taken across line 23-23 in FIG. 22showing the set screws of one of the fasteners contacting an outersurface of the cable received therein at laterally alternating locationssuch that each set screw is spaced laterally and longitudinally fromadjacent set screws;

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a fastener secured to a portion of aconveyor belt end, the fastener having ferrules crimped to cables of theconveyor belt end;

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of the fastener of FIG. 24 showing one ofthe ferrules, a fastener body, a ferrule support, and a spacer of thefastener;

FIG. 26 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 25 with the fastener bodyremoved to show bolts of the fastener that extend through the ferrulesupport and the spacer;

FIG. 27 is an exploded view of the fastener of FIG. 25 showingcountersinks of the upper and lower plates of the fastener body;

FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view taken across line 28-28 in FIG. 24showing a cable of the conveyor belt end extending between the upper andlower plates of the fastener body, through the ferrule support, and intoone of the ferrules;

FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view taken across line 29-29 in FIG. 24showing the bolts extending through openings of the upper and lowerplates of the fastener body and through openings of the spacer andferrule support;

FIGS. 30, 31, and 32 show a process of connecting the ferrule support,spacer, and fastener body to the cables of the conveyor belt end of FIG.24;

FIG. 33 is a perspective view of a support having a spacer portion andferrule support portion that may be utilized with the fastener body ofFIG. 24;

FIG. 34 is a cross-sectional view taken across line 34-34 in FIG. 33showing recesses of an upper wall of the support that are configured tomate with countersinks projecting downwardly from an upper plate of thefastener body;

FIG. 35 is an end elevational view of the support of FIG. 33 showingenlarged portions of through openings of the support at an inboardfacing wall of the support;

FIG. 36 is a bottom plan view of the support of FIG. 33 showingsidewalls of the support having lower beveled surfaces for mating withcountersinks projecting upwardly from a lower plate of the fastenerbody;

FIG. 37 is a perspective view of another support having a spacer portionand a ferrule support portion;

FIG. 38 is a side elevational view of the support of FIG. 37 showing anarrow connecting portion joining the spacer portion and the ferrulesupport portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIG. 1, a splice 10 for joining ends 12, 14 of aconveyor belt 16 is shown. The splice 10 includes fasteners 20 that areeach secured to one of the conveyor belt ends 12, 14 to form a pluralityof fasteners 20 on the opposite conveyor belt ends 12, 14. The fasteners20 each include one or more loops 22 that are interlaced with the loops22 of the fastener 20 longitudinally aligned therewith. The laced loops22 define a passageway through which a hinge pin 24 can be inserted tohingedly connect the belt ends. The ends of the hinge pin 24 are shownprotruding from the lateral sides of the conveyor belt ends 12, 14 forillustrative purposes but would, in operation, be generally flush withthe lateral sides of the conveyor belt ends 12, 14. As the splice 10travels in a downstream, longitudinal direction, the fasteners 20 canpivot about the hinge pin 24 which provides flexibility to the splice10.

The conveyor belt 16 is made of one or more layers of an elastomericmaterial, such as a natural or a synthetic rubber, and includeslongitudinally extending cables 30 (see FIG. 13) to provide tensilestrength for the belt 16. The cables 30 may be made of steel and areembedded in the rubber of the conveyor belt 16. The conveyor belt 16 hasa rated working load limit in the range of 800 PIW to 8,500 PIW. Eachfastener 20 is fixed to two of the cables 30, which permits the fastener20 to have a narrow lateral width so that the fastener 20 readilyaccommodates troughing of the conveyor belt 16. In other embodiments,each fastener 20 may be fixed to one, three, four, or another number ofcables 30 as desired. The components of the fasteners 20 and hinge pin24 are made of metallic materials, and provide a high-strength,mechanical connection between the cables 30 of the conveyor belt 16.Further, the fasteners 20 may be quickly connected to the cables 30 andused to join the ends of the conveyor belt 16 without having to utilizea vulcanizing press which reduces downtime of the conveyor belt 16. Forexample, the fasteners 20 may be used to form a hinged splice of thebelt 20 in a few hours, such as four to eight hours, using common toolsand without special training unlike a vulcanizing process. In someapplications, the fasteners 20 may be used only temporarily, such asdays or weeks, to keep the conveyor belt 16 running until the repairteam can arrive and splice the conveyor belt 16 using a vulcanizingpress. In other applications, the fasteners 20 may be employed forlonger time periods, such as months.

Regarding FIG. 2, the fastener 20 includes an outboard portion 36 and aninboard portion 38. The fastener 20 includes a fastener body 40 havingan upper portion such as an upper plate 42, a lower portion such as alower plate 44, and one or more loops 22 connecting the upper and lowerplates 42, 44. The fastener body 40 includes recesses 46 laterallyadjacent the loops 22 for receiving the loops 22 of the longitudinallyaligned fastener 20 on the opposite side of the hinge pin 24. The upperand lower plates 42, 44 define therebetween a gap 50 that receives oneor more crimps, such as ferrules 52, and the fastener 20 has a stop 51that limits inboard movement of the ferrules 52 and cables 30 fixedthereto. In one embodiment, the stop 51 includes a stop body such as aferrule support 54 separate from the fastener body 40. In anotherembodiment, the stop 51 of the fastener 20 may be a portion of thefastener body 40, as an example.

The ferrules 52 are crimped onto end portions 31 (see FIG. 13) of thecables 30 and portions of the cables 30 exposed from the belt materialextend in receptacles, e.g., through openings 72 (see FIG. 9), of theferrule support 54. The fastener 20 further includes one or moreattachment members, such as rivets, screws, or bolts, for extendingthrough openings 64, 66 of the upper plate 42 and through openings 78,80 of the lower plate 44 and connecting the upper and lower plates 42,44. In one embodiment, the attachment members include bolts 60, 62 thatengage nuts 74, 76 (see FIG. 7) received in the through openings 78, 80of the lower plate 44. Tightening the bolts 60, 62 causes the upper andlower plates 42, 44 to clamp the ferrule support 54 therebetween. Whentension is applied to the cables 30, the ferrules 52 abut the ferrulesupport 54 and the ferrule support 54 inhibits pull-through in direction82 (see FIG. 2) of the ferrules 52 and cable end portions 31 securedtherein from the fastener body 40.

In one embodiment, the ferrules 52 each have an initial, undeformedconfiguration wherein the ferrule 52 is tubular. The undeformed ferrule52 may have a sidewall with a circular cross-section so that the ferrule52 has a cylindrical configuration with a smooth cylindrical outersurface. The inner diameter of the undeformed ferrule 52 is larger thanan outer diameter of the end portion 31 of the associated cable 30 topermit the ferrule 52 in the undeformed configuration thereof to be slidon to the cable end portion 31. The ferrule 52 further has a crimped,deformed configuration wherein the ferrule 52 has an inner diameter thatis smaller than the inner diameter of the ferrule 52 when the ferrule 52is in the initial, undeformed configuration. In the deformedconfiguration, each ferrule 52 has compressed portions 150 separated byflanges such as annular ribs 152 as shown in FIG. 7. The ribs 152 areformed by material flowing away from the deformed compressed portions150 during the crimping process. The deformed configuration of theferrules 52 is generally defined by dies of the tool used to deform theferrules 52 and may be different for different applications.

With reference to FIG. 8, the crimping process advantageously forms oneof the ribs 152A at an inboard end portion 153 of the ferrule 52. Therib 152 has an enlarged, annular surface 156 for abutting a surface 158of the ferrule support 54 and resisting pull-through of the ferrule 52and cable 30 secured therein with cups or countersinks 92, 94 and ridges120, 122 of the plates 42, 44 resisting inboard movement of the ferrulesupport 54 to keep loading on the bolt 60 to a minimum. Accordingly, theferrule 52 provides a generally rigid structure on the cable end portion31 that is enlarged relative to the opening 72 of the ferrule support54. In this manner, during conveyor belt operation, tension in thesplice is transferred from the cables 30 to the ferrule support 54 andthe fastener body 40 clamping the ferrule support 54 which, in turn,transfers this loading to the hinge pin 24.

During installation of the fastener 20 on two of the cables 30, theferrules 52 are first secured to the end portions 31 of the cables 30 byadvancing an end portion 31 of each cable 30 in direction 70 (see FIG.2) into a throughbore 170 (see FIG. 9) of one of the ferrules 52. Theferrules 52 are crimped onto the end portions 31 of the cables 30 bydeforming the material of the ferrules 52. The ferrule support 54 ispositioned onto the cables 30 so that the cables 30 extend through thetwo through openings 72 of the ferrule support 54 after the ferrules 52have been applied to the end portions 31 of the cables 30. In analternative approach, the ferrule support 54 is positioned on the cables30 before the ferrules 52 have been applied to the cables 30. In eitherapproach, once the ferrules 52 and ferrule support 54 have been appliedto the end portions 31 of the cables 30, the cable end portions 31 withthe ferrules 52 and ferrule support 54 thereon are positioned in the gap50 between the upper and lower plates 42, 44 of the fastener body 40.

In one approach, the fastener body 40 is connected to the assembly ofthe ferrule support 54, ferrules 52, and cable end portions 31, byadvancing the fastener body 40 in longitudinal direction 82 (see FIG.2). Advancing the fastener body 40 in longitudinal direction 82 engagesthe ridges 120, 122 of the upper and lower plates 42, 44 with theoutboard end of the ferrule support 54 and causes the ferrule support 54to cam apart the upper and lower plates 42, 44. The fastener body 40 iscontinued to be advanced in longitudinal direction 82 onto the ferrulesupport 54 until the ridges 120, 122 are inboard of the ferrule support54 and the outboard countersinks 92, 94 (see FIG. 4) of the upper andlower plates 42, 44 are aligned with the openings 104, 106 (see FIGS. 7and 11) of the ferrule support 54. The upper and lower plates 42, 44then snap back together and the countersinks 92, 94 seat in the openings104, 106 (see FIGS. 7 and 11) of the ferrule support 54.

Next, a shank portion 144 (see FIG. 7) of the bolt 60 is advancedthrough the opening 64 of the upper plate 42, through a through opening104 of the ferrule support 54, and into threaded engagement with the nut74 that is fixed against rotation in the through opening 78 (see FIG. 6)of the lower plate 44. The shank portion 144 of the bolt 62 is thenadvanced through the opening 66 of the upper plate 42, into the rubberof the belt 16, between the cables 30, and into threaded engagement withthe nut 76 received in the through opening 80 of the lower plate 44. Topermit advancing the shank portion 144 of the bolt 62 through the rubberof the belt 16, an installer may predrill a hole in the rubber of thebelt 16 to accommodate the bolt 62. Alternatively, the bolt 62 may beprovided with a pointed pilot shank detachably mounted to the end of theshank portion 144 to pierce the rubber. As yet another example, the bolt62 may pilot itself through the rubber if the bolt 62 has anappropriately configured leading end. The bolts 60, 62 are thentightened which causes the upper and lower plates 42, 44 to clamp theferrule support 54 therebetween and causes end portions 86, 88 (see FIG.2) of the upper and lower plates 42, 44 to compress a tongue or skivedportion 246 (see FIG. 13) of the conveyor belt 16 therebetween.

With the ferrule support 54 clamped between the upper and lower plates42, 44, the ferrule support 54 is firmly held between the upper andlower plates 42, 44 and the ridges 120, 122 and countersinks 92, 94 ofthe plates 42, 44 resist movement of the ferrule support 54 and theferrules 52 in pull-through direction 82 as shown in FIG. 2. Further,the bolt 62 and nut 76 inhibit the separation of the end portions 86, 88of the upper and lower plates 42, 44 as the conveyor belt 16 travelsover pulleys. The engagement between the bolt 62 and the nut 76 alsomaintains compression of the skived portion 246 of the conveyor belt 16so that the compressed, skived portion 246 operates as a strain reliefthat protects the cables 30 from premature fatigue damage in bending.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the fastener body 40 includes a ferrulesupport stop 90 for limiting movement of the ferrule support 54 inpull-through direction 82. In one embodiment, the ferrule support stop90 includes the countersinks 92, 94 of the upper and lower plates 42, 44that extend inward distances 96, 97 from inner surfaces 98, 100 of theupper and lower plates 42, 44. The countersinks 92, 94 have a widerinner diameter at outer surfaces 99, 101 of the upper and lower plates42, 44 and a narrower inner diameter at the inner surfaces 98, 100 ofthe upper and lower plates 42, 44. The countersinks 92, 94 may be formedby dimpling the material of the upper and lower plates 42, 44 to formannular walls or wall portions 92A, 94A that taper down inwardly intothe gap 50. When the ferrule support 54 has been positioned in the gap50 between the upper and lower plates 42, 44, the countersinks 92, 94extend into openings 104, 106 (see FIGS. 7 and 11) of the ferrulesupport 54 so that the countersinks 92, 94 and openings 104, 106cooperate to form at least a portion of the ferrule support stop 90. Thecountersink wall portions 92A, 94B have outer surfaces 110, 112 (seeFIG. 4) that mate with beveled surfaces 114, 116 (see FIGS. 7 and 11) ofthe ferrule support 54. The mating fit between the ferrule support 72and the countersinks 92, 94 rigidly connects the ferrule support 54 tothe upper and lower plates 42, 44 once the bolt 60 has been tighteneddown. Further, the mating fit between the ferrule support 54 and countersinks 92, 94 of the upper and lower plates 42, 44 and the engagement ofthe ferrule support 54 against the ridges 120, 122 transfers the tensileload from the cable 30 to the fastener body 40. The bolts 60, 62 aresubject to much lower stresses because the bolts 60, 62 only carry theclamping forces and do not carry the tensile load directly. This helpslimit back-out or failure of the bolts 60, 62.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the ferrule support stop 90 furtherincludes one or more protrusions, such as ridges 120, 122 of the upperand lower plates 42, 44. The ridges 120, 122 extend inward by distances126, 128 from the inner surfaces 98, 100 of the upper and lower plates42, 44. The distances 126, 128 may be larger than distances 96, 97. Whenthe ferrule support 54 is clamped between the upper and lower plates 42,44 via the bolt 60, the ferrule support 54 has an inboard facing wall130 (see FIG. 8) that abuts the ridges 120, 122 and resists pull-throughof the ferrule support 54 in direction 82. The ridges 120, 122effectively reduce the vertical dimension of the gap 50 to an areasmaller than the wall 130 of the ferrule support 54 to block the ferrulesupport 54 from shifting out in direction 82 from between the upper andlower plates 42, 44 of the fastener body 40 as tension is applied to thefastener 20 during conveyor belt operations.

With reference to FIGS. 3-6, the upper and lower plates 42, 44 includecountersinks 134, 136 having tapered annular walls or wall portions134A, 136A extending about the openings 66, 80 and which receive thebolt 62. The countersinks 92, 134 of the upper plate 42 may have thesame or different geometry and the countersinks 94, 136 of the lowerplate 44 may likewise have the same or different geometry. Further, thevertically aligned countersinks 92, 94 and 134, 136 may have the same ordifferent geometry. For example, the countersink 136 may be wider thanthe countersink 134 to accommodate the nut 76 as shown in FIG. 5.

With reference to FIG. 3, the countersinks 92, 134 of the upper plate 42include beveled surfaces 145, 146 extending about the openings 64, 66against which head portions 148 (see FIG. 7) of the bolts 60, 62 mayseat. The countersinks 94, 136 of the lower plate 44 each include one ormore recesses 138 sized to receive one or more projections, such as tabs140 (see FIG. 7) of the nuts as 74, 76. As shown in FIG. 6, the recesses138 of the countersinks 94, 136 may be diametrically opposed andoriented along a longitudinal axis 151 of the fastener body 40. When thenuts 74, 76 are positioned in the countersinks 94, 136 and the tabs 140extend in the recesses 138 thereof, the nuts 74, 76 are kept fromturning relative to the lower plate 44 as the bolts 60, 62 are turnedand threaded into the nuts 74, 76. In one embodiment, the fastener body40 is provided with the nuts 74, 76 preassembled in the lower plate 44.For example, the nuts 74, 76 may be welded to the lower plate 44. Inanother approach, the bolts 60, 62 may have one or more projections thatengage one or more recesses of the countersinks 92, 134 to limit turningof the bolts 60, 62 relative to the upper plate 42 as the nuts 74, 76are tightened onto shank portions 144 of the bolts 60, 62.

With reference to FIG. 7, a crimp tool is used to compress the ferrules52 onto the cables 30. In one embodiment, the tool has dies that formfour compressed portions 150A, 150B, 150C, 150D as the tool crimps theferrule 52 onto the cable 30. The dies may be configured to crimp twoferrules 52 onto two cables 30 at a time. The tool compresses thematerial of the side wall of the ferrule 52 into the outer strands ofthe cable 30. The dies of the tool have recesses that permit thecompressed material of the side wall to flow radially outward and formthe ribs 152. After crimping, the ferrules 52 each have a side wall 53with the ribs 152 and compressed portions 150 formed therein. In otherembodiments, the tool dies may not have recesses such that the deformedferrules 52 do not have ribs 152. The dies of the crimp tool may includea surface that is positioned against the end of the cable 30 and locatesthe dies along the cable 30. This makes it easier for an installer tolocate the ferrules 52 at uniform locations on the ends of the cables30.

With reference to FIG. 8, the rib 152A of the ferrule 52 includes thesurface 156 and the ferrule support 54 includes a ferrule-facing wall154 having the surface 158 thereon. When the conveyor belt 16 is placedin tension, the cables 30 pull the ferrules 52 in direction 82 and thehinge pin 24 pulls the fastener body 40 in direction 70. The ferrulesupport 54 is fixed to the fastener body 40 via the engaged surfaces110, 114 and 112, 116, the ferrule support 54 abutting the ridges 120,122, and the upper and lower plates 42, 44 clamping the ferrule support54 therebetween. As the ferrules 52 are pulled in direction 82 againstthe wall 154 of the ferrule support 54, the ferrule support 54 applies areaction force in direction 70 that resists movement of the ferrules 52in direction 82.

With reference to FIGS. 7 and 9, the ferrules 52 include through bores170 that receive the cables 30 and the ferrule support 54 includesthrough openings 72 that are aligned with and open to the through bores170 of the ferrules 52. The through openings 72 of the ferrule support54 are configured to form a loose slip-fit with the cables 30 when theferrule support 54 is initially positioned on the cables 30. Once thefastener 20 has been secured to the cables 70, the through openings 72are large enough that the ferrule support 54 is spaced from the cables30 over the outer diameter of the cables 30. The clearance between theferrule support 54 and the cables 30 permits the cables 30 to movebetween the upper and lower plates 42, 44 inboard of the connectionbetween the cables 30 and the ferrule 52. As shown in FIG. 7, theferrules 52 and ferrule support 54 have axes 172, 174 extending throughthe through openings 72 and through bores 170 along which the cables 30will extend when the fastener 20 is secured to the cables 30.

With reference to FIG. 9, the ferrule support 54 includes a saddleportion 182 for contacting the cables 30 when the ferrule support 54 isinitially positioned on the cables 30. The ferrule support 54 includesan upper wall 180 and curved surfaces 184, 186 extending about thethrough openings 72 that are contoured to complement and provideclearance from the outer surfaces of the cables 30 when the fastener 20is secured to the cables 30. The ferrule support 54 includes side walls190, 192 depending from the upper wall 180 and including ledge portions194, 196 that extend around the underside of the cables 30. The ferrulesupport 54 has a lower opening 230 defined between the ledge portions194, 196. The ferrule support 54 may be connected to a pair of cables 30by advancing the ferrule support 54 in direction 200 down onto thecables 30 before or after the ferrules 52 have been applied to thecables 30. The ferrule support 54 may be advanced in direction 200 sothat both cables 30 enter the lower opening 230 at the same time or maybe advanced so that a first cable 30 enters the lower opening 230 beforea second cable 30. When one cable 30 is installed at a time, the ferrulesupport 54 is shifted in direction 200 onto the first cable 30 so thatthe first cable 30 enters the lower opening 230 and one of the surfaces184, 186 seats against the first cable 30. The steel cables 30 have aset orientation or pitch in the conveyor belt 16. The term pitch isoften used to describe the distance between the center line of one cable30 to the next cable 30. The ferrule support 54 is configured so thatthe first cable 30 and a second cable 30 have a lateral width across thecables 30 that is larger than a width 231 (see FIG. 11) of the opening230. Thus, to position the ferrule support 54 on the second cable 30,the end portion 31 of the second cable 30 is deflected laterally towardthe first cable 30 to temporarily decrease the spacing between the endportions 31 of the first and second cables 30 and permit the secondcable 30 to be laterally close enough to the first cable 30 to enter thelower opening 230 of the ferrule support 54. The ferrule support 54 isthen advanced onto the second cable 30 and the second cable 30 isreleased by the installer. The second cable 30 resiliently shiftslaterally away from the first cable 30 to restore the original pitch ofthe cables 30. The resilient bias of the cables 30 to return back totheir original pitch holds the ferrule support 54 in position on thecables 30. In another approach, the ferrule support 54 may be slidlongitudinally onto the cables 30 before connecting the ferrules 52 byadvancing the end portions 31 of the cables 30 into the through openings72 of the ferrule support 54 until the ferrule support 54 is at thedesired longitudinal position along the cables 30.

With reference to FIG. 10, the vertically oriented countersink throughopening 104 of the ferrule support 54 may have a non-circularconfiguration. In one embodiment, the through opening 104 includes afastener-receiving center portion 210 and lateral side or lobe portions212, 214. The lobe portions 212, 214 provide clearance for the cables 30as the cables 30 extend through the ferrule support 54. Morespecifically, the portion of the ferrule support 54 having the beveledsurface 114 thereon extends downwardly and would intersect the outerdiameter of the cables 30 if the through opening 104 did not include thelobe portions 212, 214. The lobe portions 212, 214 thereby provideclearance for the cables 30 to seat in the ferrule support 54 withoutinterference from the beveled surface 114. Regarding FIG. 10, theferrule support 54 has surfaces 211 on opposite sides of the centerportion 210. The surfaces 211 are configured to be in clearance with thebolt 60 as the bolt 60 extends through the through opening 104.

With reference to FIG. 11, the beveled surface 116 of the ferrulesupport 54 may include a first portion 232 on the side wall 192 and aportion 234 on the side wall 190. In this manner, the beveled surfaceportions 232, 234 can engage opposite sides of the countersink 94 of thelower plate 44. The surface portions 232, 234 mate with the outersurface 112 of the countersink 94 and limit longitudinal and lateralmovement of the ferrule support 54 relative to the lower plate 44.

With the ferrules 52 and ferrule support 54 on the cables 30, thefastener body 40 may be connected thereto by advancing the fastener body40 in direction 82 (see FIG. 3) so that the ferrule support 54 engagesthe ridges 120, 122 and cams apart the upper and lower plates 42, 44.Once the countersinks 134, 136 and ridges 120, 122 of the fastener body40 have been advanced in direction 82 inboard beyond the ferrule support54, the ridges 120, 122 shift together inboard of the ferrule support 54and the countersinks 92, 94 seat in the openings 104, 106 of the ferrulesupport 54.

Once the fastener body 40 has been connected to the assembly of theferrule support 54, ferrules 52, and cable end portions 31, the bolts60, 62 may be advanced through the openings 64, 78 and 66, 80 until thehead portions seat against the upper plate 42. Nuts 74, 76 are threadedonto the shank portions 144 of the bolts 60, 62 and tightened down whichdraws the nuts 74, 76 against the lower plate 44. Tightening down thenuts 74, 76 unifies the fastener 20 and applies pressure to the beltmaterial between the upper and lower plates 42, 44.

With reference to FIGS. 12 and 13, the fasteners 20 are shown secured tothe conveyor belt ends 12, 14 with the loops 12 of each of the fasteners20 secured to one belt end 12, 14 received in the recesses 46 of thelongitudinally aligned fastener 20 secured to the other belt end 12, 14.The splice 10 includes longitudinal gaps 235 between each loop 22 ofeach fastener 20 secured to the conveyor belt end 12 and thelongitudinally aligned ferrule 52 of the fastener 20 secured to theother conveyor belt end 14. The loops 22 of the fasteners 20 secured tothe conveyor belt end 14 are similarly spaced from longitudinallyaligned ferrules 52 of the fasteners 20 secured to the conveyor belt end12.

With reference to FIG. 13, each conveyor belt end 12, 14 includes anupper cover portion 240, an intermediate portion 242 that includes thecables 30, and a lower cover portion 244. The material of the upper andlower cover portions 240, 244 may have different characteristics thanthe rubber of the intermediate portion 242. For example, the upper andlower covers 240, 244 may have enhanced resistance to chemicals and/orultraviolet light. The conveyor belt 16 may contain reinforcingstructures in addition to the cables 30, such as fabric or textiles.

The ends 12, 14 may be formed by cutting the conveyor belt 16. Theconveyor belt 16 and cables 30 therein may be cut, for example, using anangle grinder. Before applying the fasteners 20 to the conveyor beltends 12, 14, a skiving operation is performed to remove sections of theupper and lower cover portions 240, 244. This leaves a skived portion246 of each conveyor belt end 12, 14. The skived portion 246 of the beltends 12, 14 includes material of the intermediate portion 242 encasingthe cables 30.

Next, the user cleans the material of the intermediate portion 242 offof the cables 30 including the end portions 31 thereof. This cleaningmay be performed, for example, using a tool with an oscillating blade, ahand knife with a hooked blade and/or a grinding tool with a wire brush.

The ferrules 52 are positioned on the now-exposed end portions 31 of thecables 30, the ferrules 52 are crimped, the ferrule supports 54 areconnected to the cables 30, and the remaining components of the fastener20 are assembled onto the cables 30 as discussed above. The skivedportion 246 of each belt end 12, 14 is clamped between the inboard endportions 86, 88 of the upper and lower plates 42, 44 with tightening ofthe bolts 60, 62.

Each cable 30 includes a plurality of filaments or wires. In oneembodiment, the wires are grouped together in bundles of wires with eachwire extending helically in the bundle. In one embodiment, the cable 30includes seven bundles of seven wires each. The seven bundles includeone central bundle and six peripheral bundles in a helical arrangementaround the central bundle. As the conveyor belt bends, such as goingaround a pulley, the wires of the cable 30 can slide past each other andmove about each other to reduce the stress level in the strands of thecable 30.

Each fastener 20 provides a length 260 of cable 30 engaged with theferrule 52. Each fastener 20 further provides a length 262 of each cable30 extending from the ferrule 52 to the skived portion 246. The length262 may vary from cable 30 to cable 30 due to user error although suchvariance is not desired or intended. The sum of the lengths 260 and 262may be in the range of two inches to three inches, such as approximately2.5 inches. Further, each fastener 20 provides a length 264 of the cable30 from an outboard edge 268 of the skived portion 246 to an inboardedge 270 of the upper and lower plates 42, 44 at the fastener inboardportion 38. The length 264 may be in the range of 0.5 inches to 1.5inches, such as approximately one inch.

The cables 30 hold tension while in a bent shape such as when the splice10 goes around a pulley. The individual wires of the cables 30 can moverelative to each other to a position of lower stress which permitsbending of the cables 30 without stress in the cables 30 exceedingsafety limits. The action of crimping the ferrule 52 onto one of thecables 30 effectively fixes an end section of all of the wires of thecable 30 within the ferrule 52 from moving and relieving stress as thecable 30 bends.

It has been found that the movement of the conveyor belt 12 over pulleysresults in the fasteners 20 bending the cables 30 generally at theinboard edges 270 of the upper and lower plates 42, 44. The bending ofthe cables 30 causes deformation in the cable 30 in the form of wires ofthe cable 30 sliding past each other or otherwise adjusting thepositions of the wires to reduce the stress level therein. The upper andlower plates 42, 44 are longitudinally sized to provide a distance 263between the inboard the edge 270 of the upper and lower plates 42, 44and the ferrule 52. The distance 263 provides a strain relief length 265of each cable 30 extending longitudinally between the inboard edge 270and the ferrule 52. The strain relief length 265 provided by the upperand lower plates 42, 44 moves the deformation in the cable 30 due tobending farther away from the ferrule 52. This reduces fatigue of thecrimped end portion 31 of the cable 30 because the deformation isoccurring farther away from the crimped end portion 31 of the cable 30at locations where the wires of the cable 30 can move relative to eachother and relieve stress, which improves the durability of theconnection between the fastener 20 and the cable 30. Further, the skivedportion 246 of the belt end 12, 14 is compressed between the inboard endportions 86, 88 of the upper and lower plates 42, 44. The compressedmaterial of the skived portion 246 acts as a shock absorber toaccommodate the loading applied to the upper and lower plates 42, 44 asthe upper and lower plates 42, 44 travel around pulleys.

Preferably, the components of the fastener 20 are of metallic materials.In one embodiment, the fastener body 40 is made of 304 stainless carbonsteel, the ferrule support 54 is made of medium carbon steel, theferrules 52 are made of copper or stainless steel, the bolts 60, 62 aremade of steel, and the nuts 74, 76 are made of steel. Other materialsfor these components may be employed. The bolts 60, 62 may take the formof a flat head screw. The hinge pin 24 may be a nylon-covered steelcable having braided steel wires.

In one embodiment, the fastener body 40, ferrule support 54, and bolts60, 62 are made of steel and the ferrules 52 are made of copper that isless rigid or is softer than the steel of the nearby components. Oncethe fastener 20 has been installed on a pair of cables 30, significanttension loads are applied to the cables 30 which firmly engages the endportions 153 of the ferrules 52 with the ferrule support 54. In someinstances, the pair of ferrules 52 of a fastener 20 are positioned onthe pair of cables 30 by an installer at different longitudinalpositions along the belt 16 so that one ferrule 52 is more outboard andthe other ferrule 52 is more inboard relative to the rubber of the belt16. This situation may occur when, for example, one of the cables 30 iscut shorter than the other cable 30 or the installer crimps the ferrules52 at different longitudinal positions along the cables 30.

In these longitudinally misaligned situations, the outboard ferrule 52is spaced from or not fully engaged with the ferrule support 54 suchthat the cable 30 of the outboard ferrule 52 is under a significantlylower tensile load than the cable 30 of the inboard ferrule 52. Theinboard ferrule 52 transfers the tensile load from the associated cable30 and the material of the belt surrounding the cable 30 of the outboardferrule 52 to the ferrule support 54. The higher tensile load in thecable 30 of the inboard ferrule 52 compresses the end portion 153 of theinboard ferrule 52 against the ferrule support 54. The end portion 153of the inboard ferrule 52 is therefore subjected to compressive stressdue to the engagement with the ferrule support 54 that is greater thanif both ferrules 52 were engaged with the ferrule support 54. It isbelieved that the softer material of the ferrules 52 permits the endportion 153 of the inboard ferrule 52 to compress longitudinally andeffectively take up the difference in the longitudinal positions of theferrules 52 along the belt 16. In other words, the high stress impartedto the inboard ferrule 52 shortens the ferrule 52 until the outboardferrule 52 engages the ferrule support 54 and starts to transfer tensileloads from the cable 30 of the outboard ferrule 52 to the ferrulesupport 54. In this manner, the deformation of the end portion 153 ofthe more inboard ferrule 52 compensates for the longitudinalmisalignment of the ferrules 52 on the cables 30. This is advantageousbecause too much tension in one cable 30 while too little tension in theother cable 30 can contribute to mistracking of the conveyor belt 16.

With reference to FIG. 14, another splice 300 is provided for joiningends 302, 304 of a conveyor belt 306. The splice 300 include fasteners308 that are each connected to one of the cables 310 (see FIG. 22) ofthe conveyor belt ends 302, 304. Regarding FIG. 15, each fastener 308 issecured to the respective cable 310 and has a loop 312 with an opening314 that receives a hinge pin 316 of the splice 300. Each fastener 308includes a hinge portion 320 having the loop 312 and a cable-receivingportion 322 for receiving and being secured to one of the cables 310.The fastener 308 includes a fastener body 324 that may be elongated andincludes a longitudinal opening, such as a blind bore 326, sized toreceive an end portion 328 of the cable 310 as the cable end portion 328is advanced in direction 330 into the blind bore 326. Regarding FIGS. 15and 18, the fastener body 324 has a generally rectangular block-likeshape that is narrower in the lateral direction than the fastener body324 is tall in the vertical direction. The narrow configuration of thefastener body 324 permits the splice 300 to accommodate troughing of theconveyor belt 306.

The fastener 308 includes a first cable locking assembly 332 and asecond cable locking assembly 334 that operate laterally side-by-side toone another to secure the cable 310 in the blind bore 326. In oneembodiment, the first and second cable locking assemblies 332, 334 eachinclude one or more locking members, such as set screws 340, received inapertures 342 in an upper wall portion 372 of the fastener body 324. Theset screws 340 have rotary drive structures 343 for receiving a driver,such as an Allen driver bit of a power tool, and a leading end portion344 (see FIG. 20) for compressing the cable 310 against a portion 350(see FIG. 17) of a surface 351 the bore 326 and capturing the cable 310within the blind bore 326.

With reference to FIGS. 15, 16, and 18, the upper wall of the fastenerbody 324 includes upper surfaces 354, 356 that extend transversely toone another. With the transverse orientation of the upper surfaces 354,356, the apertures 342 in the surfaces will extend obliquely to oneanother so that the set screws 340 therein apply a somewhat zigzagpattern of contact against the cable 310 as discussed in greater detailbelow.

With reference to FIGS. 16 and 17, the fastener body 324 includes arecess 370 so that with the fastener 308 secured to one belt end, thefastener recess 370 can receive the loop 312 of a longitudinally alignedfastener 308 secured to the other belt end. The fastener body 324includes the upper wall portion 372 having the apertures 342 formedtherein and a lower wall 374 which includes the bore surface portion 350against which the cable 310 is compressed by the set screws 340. Theupper wall portion 372 and the lower wall portion 374 cooperate to formthe bore 326 with each of the wall portions 372, 374 having a portion ofthe surface 351 of the bore 326. The fastener 324 includes an end wallportion 376 forming a closed end 378 of the blind bore 326. The end wallportion 376 of the fastener body 324 spaces the closed end 378 by adistance 380 from the aperture 342C. The distance 380 permits the setscrew 340 in the aperture 342C to engage wires of the cable 310 spacedfrom the ends of the wires of the cable 310, which tend to splay apartwhen compressed, to increase the strength of the connection between theset screw 340 in the aperture 342C and the cable 310.

With reference to FIG. 17, the fastener body 324 further includes aspacer portion 382 that extends a distance 384 between an aperture 342Aand an inboard end 386 of the fastener body 324. It has been observedthat the cable 310 bends near the inboard end 386 of the fastener 308.The distance 384 provided by the spacer portion 382 moves the stressconcentration due to the bending away from the apertures 342A, 342B andthe set screws 340 therein that engage the cable 310. The distance 384provides bend or strain relief by moving the bending point of the cable310 away from the tightly secured bundles of wires of the cable 310.

With reference to FIGS. 18 and 19, the apertures 342 have an alternatingorientation relative to a vertical axis 402 of the fastener body 324.More specifically, with reference to FIG. 18, the aperture 342A has aninlet opening 392, an outlet opening 394, and a central aperture axis396 extending between the inlet opening 392 and the outlet opening 394.The fastener body 324 includes an aperture surface 398 extending aboutthe aperture 342A and including threads for engaging the set screw 340.The blind bore 326 has a central longitudinal axis 400 extendingperpendicular to the vertical axis 402 of the fastener body 324. Theaperture central axis 396 extends at an angle 404 relative to thevertical axis 402. Thus, as the set screw 340 is driven in direction 325along the aperture central axis 396, the set screw 340 compresses thecable 310 against the bore surface portion 350.

With reference to FIG. 19, the aperture 342B likewise has an aperturecentral axis 410 oriented at an angle 412 relative to the vertical axis402 of the fastener body 324. The angle 412 may be the same or differentas the angle 404. As shown in FIG. 19, the set screw 340 is driven indirection 327 along the aperture central axis 310 to engage the cable310 and compress the cable 310 against the bore surface portion 350.

With reference to FIG. 20, each set screw 340 includes a trailing endportion 410 that includes the rotary drive structure 343 and a body 412having threads 414. The leading end portion 344 of the set screw 340includes the nose 420 for contacting the cable 310. The nose 420 mayhave a frustoconical surface 421 that wedges between bundles of wires ofthe cable and helps secure the set screw 340 to the cable 310. The nose420 may also include a flat surface 422 which applies a focused,compressive force on the cable 310.

With reference to FIG. 21, the fasteners 308 are shown secured to thecables 310 and the loops 312 of fasteners 308 are in a laced arrangementon the hinge pin 316. With reference to FIG. 22, each cable 310 extendsin the blind bore 326 of one of the fasteners 308. The conveyor beltends 302, 304 each include an upper cover 430, an intermediate portion432 including the cables 310 and surrounding rubber, and a lower cover434. During installation of the fasteners 308 on the conveyor belt ends302, 304, the material of the conveyor belt ends 302, 304 is cleaned offof the cables 310 to expose the cables 310. The fasteners 308 are slidonto the cables 310 and the set screws 340 are tightened down to securethe cables 310 in the fasteners 308.

With reference to FIG. 23, the set screws 342 contact the cable 310 in azigzag or alternating pattern with each of the set screws 342 contactingthe cable 310 generally on opposite sides of the central longitudinalaxis 400 of the blind bore 326 when viewed as shown in FIG. 23. Each setscrew 342 is spaced both longitudinally and laterally from adjacent setscrews 342 and these adjacent set screws 342 push the cable 310 down butin oblique directions generally opposite to the oblique direction of theadjacent set screws 342 relative to the vertical axis 402.

The staggered pattern of the contact of the set screws 340 against thecable 310 positions pairs of the set screws 340C, 340D, 340E, and 340Falong transverse axes 450, 452. The transverse axes 450, 452 may beoblique relative to the central longitudinal axis 400. The alternatingpositioning of the set screws 340 permits the set screw 340 to contactdifferent bundles of wires of the cable 310. Stated differently, as thebundles of wires of the cable 310 extend helically around the centralbundle of the cable 310, the different bundles will be presented to thedifferent set screws 340 along the length of the blind bore 326. Theengagement of the set screws 340 with different bundles of wires of thecable 310 provides a mechanical lock on each bundle of wires. Thisprovides resistance to turning of the cable 310 within the blind bore326 in addition to the set screws 342 compressing the cable 310 againstthe fastener lower wall 315 and inhibiting pull-out of the cable 310 indirection 470. In one embodiment, the fastener body 324 and the setscrews 340 are made of one or more metallic materials such as steel.

Regarding FIG. 24, a fastener 500 is provided that is similar in manyrespects to the fastener 20 discussed above such that differences behighlighted. The fastener 500 is shown secured to a portion of aconveyor belt end 502 having cables 504, 506 that are embedded in a beltmaterial 508 (see FIG. 30) such as one or more layers of rubber. In FIG.24, the fastener 500 includes a connector 501 having a fastener body 510and a stop 503. In one embodiment, the stop 503 includes a stop bodysuch as a ferrule support 512. The fastener 500 includes a spacer 518(see FIG. 25) and one or more crimps such as ferrules 514, 516 securedto the cables 504, 506. The fastener body 510 includes an upper membersuch as an inboard upper plate 530, a lower member such as an inboardlower plate 532, and an outboard loop portion 524. The fastener body 510extends from an upper inboard end portion 520 of the upper plate 530,through one or more loops 534 of the outboard loop portion 524, and to alower inboard end portion 522 of the lower plate 532.

Regarding FIGS. 25 and 26, the ferrule support 512 has a ferrule-facingwall 542 to resist movement of the ferrules 514, 516 in pull-throughdirection 546. The fastener body 510 further includes a ferrule supportstop 531 to limit movement of the ferrule support 512. The ferrulesupport stop 531 may include ridges 548, 550 of the upper and lowerplates 530, 532 that locally decrease the height of a gap 591 betweenthe upper and lower plates 530, 532 to be less than a height of theferrule support 512. The ferrule support stop 531 may also includecountersinks 586, 594 (see FIG. 27) that engage recesses 584, 585 of theferrule support 512. Regarding FIG. 25, when the fastener 510 is securedto the conveyor belt end 502 and linked via a hinge pin to a fastener onan opposing conveyor belt end, the tension in the cables 504, 506 urgesthe ferrules 514, 516 against the ferrule-facing wall 542 of the ferrulesupport 512. The compression of the ferrules 514, 516 against theferrule support 512 urges an inboard-facing wall 554 of the ferrulesupport 512 in direction 546 against the ridges 548, 550 and tightlyengages the ferrule support 512 with the countersinks 586, 594 of thefastener body 510. The assembly of the ferrules 514, 516, ferrulesupport 512, and fastener body 510 thereby provides a rigid construct totransfer the tension in the cables 504, 506 to the hinge pin of thesplice and the associated fasteners of the opposing conveyor belt end.

With reference to FIG. 27, the fastener 500 includes one or moreattachment members, such as bolts 560, 562, extending apertures orthrough openings 564, 566 and 568, 570 of the upper and lower plates530, 532. The fastener 500 further includes nuts 574, 576 that engagethreaded portions 578 of the bolts 560, 562 and keep the upper and lowerplates 530, 532 into clamped engagement with the ferrule support 512 andthe spacer 518. In other embodiments, one or more rivets or screws maybe used instead of or in addition to the bolts 560, 562 and nuts 574,576.

In FIG. 27, the ferrules 514, 516 are shown in a deformed configurationand have central throughbores 580 that receive the cables 504, 506 andridges 582 that abut the ferrule-facing wall 542 of the ferrule support512. The ferrule support 512 is similar to the ferrule support 54discussed above and includes the upper recess 584 that mates with thecountersink 586 of the upper plate 530. The ferrule support 512 has apair of spaced apart sidewalls 590, 592 with lower beveled surfacesthereon that form the recess 585 which mates with the countersink 594 ofthe lower plate 532. The countersink 586 extends downward from an innersurface 596 of the upper plate 530 while the countersink 594 extendsupwardly from an inner surface 598 of the lower plate 532. The upper andlower plates 530, 532 further include a countersink 600 and acountersink 602 that also extend inwardly from the inner surfaces 596,598.

The bolts 560, 562 each include a head portion 608 that is seated in oneof the countersinks 594, 602 and shank portions 612 that extend into thegap 591 between the upper and lower plates 530, 532. The head portion608 may have a lower surface with a shape, e.g., frustoconical, thatseats against an inner surface of the countersinks 594, 602. The headportion 608 likewise has a flat upper surface that is flush with orbelow a lower surface of the lower plate 532 (see FIG. 28) to reduce theprofile of the bolts 560, 562 on the lower plate 532 and limit ingressof debris into the openings 566, 570 of the countersinks 594, 602.

The countersinks 594, 602 include anti-rotation members, such as tabs604, that extend into recesses 606 of head portions 608 of the bolts560, 562. The engagement between tabs 604 and recesses 606 fixes thebolts 560, 562 against rotation in the openings 566, 570. Further, thehead portions 608 of the bolts 560, 562 include tapered portions 610that taper gradually to the threaded portion 578 and increase thedurability of the bolts 560, 562.

Regarding FIG. 27, the spacer 518 may be made of a rigid material, suchas steel, to resist movement of the upper and lower plates 530, 532toward one another during conveyor belt operation. By describing thespacer 518 as rigid, it is intended that the spacer 518 resistscompression during operation of the conveyor belt and provides a hardstop for the upper and lower plates 530, 532. The spacer 518 resistsmovement of the upper and lower plates 530, 532 toward each other andthe bolt 560 and nut 574 resist movement of the upper and lower plates530, 532 away from each other. In this manner, the spacer 518, bolt 560,and nut 574 rigidly fix the upper and lower plates 530, 532 relative toone another, which maintains a more constant tension in the bolts 560,562 and prolongs the life of the bolts 560, 562.

The spacer 518 includes an upper portion 612, a lower portion 614, andrecesses 616, 618 of the upper and lower portions 612, 614. The recesses616, 618 receive the countersinks 600, 602 of the upper and lower plates530, 532. The spacer 518 further includes mating portions, such as uppercontact surfaces 620 and lower contact surfaces 622, that are tapered toengage wall portions 628, 630 of the countersinks 600, 602. The spacer518 includes a throughbore 632 that receives the shank portion 612 ofthe bolt 560. The spacer 518 is dogbone-shaped and the recesses 616, 618permit the fastener body 510 and countersinks 600, 602 thereof to beslid laterally onto the spacer 518 as discussed below with reference toFIGS. 30-32.

Regarding FIG. 28, the fastener 500 is secured to the conveyor belt end502. The cable 504 is shown extending between the upper and lower plates530, 532 with a cable end portion 650 of the cable 504 received in theferrule 514. The rib 582 of the ferrule 514 contacts a stop surface 652of the ferrule-facing wall 542 of the ferrule support 512. The cable 504includes a plurality of wires and the cable end portion 650 includes endsections of the wires of the cable 504. Due to the compression of theferrule 514, the end sections of the wires of cable end portion 650 areeffectively fixed relative to one another and may not shift about andalong each other to facilitate bending of the cable 504.

The upper and lower plates 530, 532 include longitudinal spacer portions654, 656 that separate the ferrules 514 and cable end portions 650therein a distance 658 from ends 660, 662 of the upper and lower plates530, 532. Regarding cable 504, the distance 658 provides a predeterminedlength 670 of the cable 504 within the fastener 500. Further, thedistance 658 provides a strain relief length 671 of the cable 504extending longitudinally between the ends 660, 662 of the upper andlower plates 530, 532 of the fastener body 510 to the ferrule 514. Thesections of the wires of the cable 504 along the strain relief length671 may shift about and along each other with bending of the cable 504to relieve stress, which increases the durability of the connectionbetween the fastener 500 and the cable 504. In some embodiments, aportion of the strain relief length 671 of each cable 504, 506 withinthe fastener 500 is embedded with belt material 508.

Regarding FIG. 29, the upper and lower plates 530, 532 are shown clampedonto the spacer 518 by the bolts 560, 562 and nuts 574, 576. Thecountersinks 600, 602 are engaged with the upper portion 612 and lowerportion 614 of the spacer 518. Specifically, the wall portions 628, 630abut the upper and lower contact surfaces 620, 622 of the spacer 518.The assembly of the nut 574 and the bolt 560 resists separation of theupper and lower plate portions 530, 532 in directions 700, 702 while thepresence of the spacer 518 resists movement of the upper and lower plateportions 530, 532 toward one another in directions 704, 706. In thismanner, the upper and lower plate portions 530, 532 have a fixeddistance 708 between the inner surfaces 596, 598 (see FIG. 27) at theupper and lower inboard end portions 520, 522. The presence of thespacer 518 provides a rigid stop for the upper and lower plate portions530, 532 that limits movement of the plate portions 530, 532 toward eachother, followed by rebounding apart, which may create spikes in thetension of the bolts 560, 562. The spacer 518 maintains the distancebetween the upper and lower plate portions 530, 532 to provide a moreconstant tensile load on the bolts 560, 562, which may improve thelifespan of the bolts 560, 562.

Regarding FIGS. 30-32, a method of connecting portions of the fastener500 to the conveyor belt end 502 is disclosed. The method includespreparing the conveyor belt end 502 to have a tongue or skived portion800 and trimming the belt material 508 to expose the cables 504, 506.The skived portion 800 includes upper and lower surfaces 807, 809 of theconveyor belt end 502. The trimming also includes forming a gap 802 inthe belt material 508 that separates portions 804, 806 of the beltmaterial 508. The ferrules 514, 516 are applied to the end portions 650of the cables 504, 506 as discussed above. The ferrule support 512 isadvanced downwardly in direction 810 onto the cables 506 and the spacer518 is fit in direction 810 into the gap 802. In FIG. 31, the spacer 518is held between the portions 804, 806 of the conveyor belt material 508embedding the cables 504, 506. In another embodiment, the belt material508 may be completely removed on each side of the spacer 518.

Regarding FIGS. 26 and 31, the cables 504, 506 extend along oppositesides of the spacer 518, through the through openings 820, 822 of theferrule support 512, and into the throughbores 580 of the ferrules 514,516. With the spacer 518, ferrule support 512, and ferrules 514, 516positioned on the cables 504, 506, the fastener body 510 may then beadvanced laterally in direction 824 so that the upper and lower plates530, 532 sandwich the spacer 518 and ferrule support 512 therebetween.

Regarding FIGS. 27 and 32, the countersinks 586, 594 of the fastenerbody 510 mate with the corresponding recesses 584, 585 of the ferrulesupport 512 and the countersinks 600, 602 mate with the recesses 616,618 of the spacer 518. In this configuration, the openings 568, 570 arealigned with the throughbore 632 of the spacer 518 and the openings 564,566 are aligned with the through opening 633 of the ferrule support 512.The bolts 560, 562 may be advanced through the aligned openings of thefastener body 510, spacer 518, and ferrule support 512 and the nuts 574,576 tightened onto the threaded shank portions 612 of the bolts 560,562. The fastener 500 is thereby secured to the conveyor belt end 502.In one embodiment, the bolts 560, 562 have a length larger than theheight of the fastener body 510. Once the nuts 574, 576 have beentightened down onto bolts 560, 562, the excess lengths of the bolts 560,562 projecting beyond the upper plate 530 are removed using a boltbreaker. This positions the ends of the bolt shank portions 578 flushwith or below an upper surface of the upper plate 530.

Regarding FIG. 33, a support 900 is provided that includes a body 901having a ferrule support portion 902 and a spacer portion 904. The body901 has a unitary, one-piece construction and may be made of a metallicmaterial, such as steel. The ferrule support portion 902 and spacerportion 904 provide similar operability as the ferrule support 512 andthe spacer 518 discussed above such that the support 900 may be utilizedin the fastener 500 in place of the ferrule support 512 and spacer 518.Because the support 900 has a one-piece construction, the support 900may readily positioned on and supported by the cables 504, 506 even ifthe belt material 508 has been trimmed so that there are no beltmaterial portions 804, 806 on the cables 504, 506.

The support 900 includes through openings 906, 908 for receiving thecables 504, 506 and a lower opening 910 that permits the support 900 tobe advanced downwardly onto the cables 504, 506. The support 900includes a ferrule-facing wall 912 against which the ferrules 514, 516may abut and an outboard facing wall 914. The support 900 includes anupper wall 916 and depending side walls 918, 920. The upper wall 916includes upper recesses 922, 924 for receiving, respectively,countersinks 586, 600 of the upper plate 530 of the fastener body 510.The side walls 918, 920 includes lower beveled surfaces 954, 956 (seeFIG. 36) configured to form mating engagements with the outer surfacesof the countersinks 598, 602. The upper wall 916 also includes throughopenings 925, 927 that permit the bolts 560, 562 to extend therethroughand connect the upper and lower plates 530, 532 of the fastener body510. To fix the support 900 within the fastener body 510. the support900 includes grooves 930, 932 that mate with the ridges 548, 550 of theupper and lower plates 530, 532.

Regarding FIGS. 35 and 36, the side walls 918, 920 include ledgeportions 950, 952 having the beveled surfaces 954, 956 thereon. Thesupport 900 includes a saddle portion 960 that extends between thecables received in the through openings 906, 908. The saddle portion 960and side walls 918, 920 cooperate to form a loose slip fit between thesupport 900 and the cables 504, 506 during installation of the fastener500 on the cables 504, 506. Once the fastener 500 has been secured tothe cables 504, 506, the saddle portion 960 and side walls 918, 920 areconfigured to be spaced from the cables 504, 506. To provide clearancefor the cables 504, 506 and accommodate bending of the cables, thesupport 900 includes flared surfaces 962 extending about the throughopenings 906, 908 near the outboard facing wall 914. The flared surfaces962 provide clearance for the cables 504, 506 to limit contact betweenthe cables 504, 506 and the support 900 near the outboard facing surface914. Regarding FIG. 36, the saddle portion 960 may also narrow as thesaddle portion 960 nears the outboard facing wall 914. The narrowing ofthe saddle portion 960 provides further clearance for movement of thecables 504, 506.

With reference to FIG. 37, a support 1000 is provided that includes abody 1001 having a spacer portion 1002 and a ferrule support portion1004. The body 1001 has a unitary, one-piece construction and may bemade of a metallic material, such as steel. The spacer portion 1002operates similarly to the spacer 518 discussed above and the ferrulesupport portion 1004 operates similarly to the ferrule support 512discussed above. The support 1000 has a connecting portion 1006 joiningthe spacer portion 1002 and the ferrule support portion 1004. The spacerportion 1002 includes a throughbore 1008 for receiving the bolt 560 andthe ferrule support portion 1004 includes a through opening 1010 toreceive the bolt 562.

Regarding FIG. 38, the spacer portion 1002 includes recesses 1012, 1014that receive the countersinks 600, 602 and contact surfaces 1016, 1018that engage the countersinks 600, 602 and provide a rigid stop for theupper and lower plates 530, 532. At the other end of the support 1000,the ferrule support portion 1004 includes a ferrule-facing wall 1020 forabutting the ferrules 514, 516 and an inboard facing wall 1022 forcontacting the ridges 548, 550 of the upper and lower plates 530, 532.In one embodiment, the connecting portion 1006 includes a recess 1024that receives the ridge 548 and a recess 1026 that receives the ridge550.

While there have been illustrated and described particular embodimentsof the present invention, it will be appreciated that numerous changesand modifications will occur to those skilled in the art, and it isintended for the present invention to cover all those changes andmodifications which fall within the scope of the appended claims. Forexample, the materials and the sizes of the components of the fasteners20, 308 may be selected to handle specific belt tension requirements. Itis intended that the phrase “at least one of” as used herein beinterpreted in the disjunctive sense. For example, the phrase “at leastone of A and B” is intended to encompass only A, only B, or both A andB.

What is claimed is:
 1. A fastener for securing to an end of a conveyorbelt having cables, the fastener comprising: a crimp configured to befixed to an end portion of a conveyor belt cable; a connector having aunitary, one-piece fastener body distinct from the crimp, the fastenerbody having an upper portion for being disposed adjacent an uppersurface of the conveyor belt end and a lower portion for being disposedadjacent a lower surface of the conveyor belt end; the upper and lowerportions of the fastener body spaced apart to receive the crimptherebetween and permit the conveyor belt cable to extend in an outboarddirection between the upper and lower portions; an outboard loop portionof the fastener body connecting the upper and lower portions; and a stopof the connector configured to abut the crimp and form an abutmentinterface therebetween inboard of the outboard loop portion, the stoparranged to block inboard movement of the crimp and the conveyor beltcable end portion fixed thereto.
 2. The fastener of claim 1 wherein thestop includes a stop body distinct from the fastener body.
 3. Thefastener of claim 2 wherein the upper and lower portions of the fastenerbody and the stop body include at least one mating projection and recessthat engage to resist movement of the stop body relative to the fastenerbody.
 4. The fastener of claim 1 wherein the connector further includesa rigid spacer configured to fit between the upper and lower portions ofthe fastener body and an attachment member configured to extend betweenthe upper and lower portions and clamp the rigid spacer between theupper and lower portions.
 5. The fastener of claim 1 wherein the stopincludes a though opening for receiving the conveyor belt cable and astop surface extending about the through opening configured to contactthe crimp.
 6. The fastener of claim 1 wherein the conveyor belt cableincludes a pair of conveyor belt and the crimp includes a pair of crimpseach configured to be fixed to a respective conveyor belt cable endportion; and the stop is configured to contact the crimps and inhibitinboard movement of the crimps and conveyor belt cable end portionsfixed thereto.
 7. A fastener for securing to an end of a conveyor belthaving cables, the fastener comprising: a crimp configured to be fixedto a conveyor belt cable; a connector having a unitary, one-piecefastener body with an upper portion for being disposed adjacent an uppersurface of the conveyor belt end and a lower portion for being disposedadjacent a lower surface of the conveyor belt end; the upper and lowerportions of the fastener body spaced apart to receive the crimptherebetween and permit the conveyor belt cable to extend in an outboarddirection between the upper and lower portions; a stop of the connectorarranged to block inboard movement of the crimp and the conveyor beltcable fixed thereto; wherein the conveyor belt cable includes a pair ofconveyor belt cables and the crimp includes a pair of crimps eachconfigured to be fixed to a respective conveyor belt cable; the stop isconfigured to contact the crimps and inhibit inboard movement of thecrimps and conveyor belt cables fixed thereto; wherein the crimps eachinclude a tubular member having a central cable-receiving opening; andwherein the stop of the connector is of a first material having a firsthardness and the tubular members of the crimps are of a second materialhaving a second hardness less than the first hardness to permit at leastone of the tubular members to deform during conveyor belt operation sothat both tubular members engage the stop.
 8. A fastener for a conveyorbelt end having a longitudinal cable embedded in belt material, thefastener comprising: a crimp configured to be secured to the cable; aconnector including a fastener body having an upper member and a lowermember; ends of the upper and lower members for being positionedadjacent the belt material; the upper and lower members of the fastenerbody having a gap therebetween that permits the cable to extendlongitudinally between and spaced from the upper and lower members; astop of the connector arranged to block movement of the crimp and cablefixed thereto toward the ends of the upper and lower members in the gapbetween the upper and lower members; and the upper and lower members ofthe fastener body are sized to provide a longitudinal spacing betweenthe ends of the upper and lower members and the crimp so that the cablehas a strain relief length between the ends of the upper and lowermembers and the crimp; wherein the cable includes a plurality of wireshaving first portions fixed together by the crimp; and wherein thestrain relief length of the cable includes second portions of the wires,the second portions of the wires are shiftable about each other torelieve stress in the wires as the cable bends.
 9. The fastener of claim8 wherein the stop includes a through opening for receiving the cableand a stop surface configured to contact the crimp, the stop spaced fromthe cable to permit the cable to move in the through opening of the stopduring conveyor belt operation.
 10. The fastener body of claim 8 whereinthe fastener body includes an outboard loop connecting the upper andlower members.
 11. The fastener of claim 8 wherein the stop includes astop body distinct from the fastener body.
 12. The fastener of claim 8wherein the connector further includes a rigid spacer sized to fitbetween the upper and lower members and an attachment member configuredto extend the between the upper and lower members and clamp the rigidspacer between the upper and lower members.
 13. The fastener of claim 8wherein the upper and lower members each include an aperture; and anattachment member configured to extend through the aperture of the upperand lower members.
 14. A fastener for a conveyor belt end having alongitudinal cable embedded in belt material, the fastener comprising: acrimp configured to be secured to the cable; a connector including afastener body having an upper member and a lower member; ends of theupper and lower members for being positioned adjacent the belt material;the upper and lower members of the fastener body having a gaptherebetween that permits the cable to extend longitudinally between andspaced from the upper and lower members; a stop of the connectorarranged to block movement of the crimp and cable fixed thereto towardthe ends of the upper and lower members in the gap between the upper andlower members; and the upper and lower members of the fastener body aresized to provide a longitudinal spacing between the ends of the upperand lower members and the crimp so that the cable has a strain relieflength between the ends of the upper and lower members and the crimp;wherein the stop includes a stop body distinct from the fastener body;wherein the upper and lower members of the fastener body are separatedby a gap and include projections extending into the gap to inhibitlongitudinal movement of the stop body relative to the fastener bodytoward the ends of the upper and lower members.
 15. The fastener ofclaim 14 wherein fastener body includes a loop connecting the upper andlower members, the fastener body having a unitary, one-piececonstruction.
 16. The fastener of claim 14 wherein the upper and lowermembers are elongated and the projections includes laterally extendingridges of the upper and lower members.
 17. The fastener of claim 14wherein the projections include countersinks of the upper and lowermembers of the fastener body; and wherein the stop body includesopenings configured to receive the countersinks of the upper and lowermembers of the fastener body.
 18. A fastener for a conveyor belt endhaving a longitudinal cable embedded in belt material, the fastenercomprising: a crimp configured to be secured to the cable; a connectorincluding a fastener body having an upper member and a lower member;ends of the upper and lower members for being positioned adjacent thebelt material; the upper and lower members of the fastener body having agap therebetween that permits the cable to extend longitudinally betweenand spaced from the upper and lower members; a stop of the connectorarranged to block movement of the crimp and cable fixed thereto towardthe ends of the upper and lower members in the gap between the upper andlower members; the upper and lower members of the fastener body aresized to provide a longitudinal spacing between the ends of the upperand lower members and the crimp so that the cable has a strain relieflength between the ends of the upper and lower members and the crimp;wherein the stop includes a stop body distinct from the fastener body;wherein the upper and lower members include apertures and the stop bodyincludes a through opening; and an attachment member configured toextend through the apertures of the upper and lower members and thethrough opening of the stop body.
 19. The fastener of claim 18 whereinfastener body includes a loop portion connecting the upper and lowermembers, the fastener body having a unitary, one-piece construction. 20.A fastener for a conveyor belt end having a longitudinal cable embeddedin belt material, the fastener comprising: a crimp configured to besecured to the cable; a connector including a fastener body having anupper member and a lower member; ends of the upper and lower members forbeing positioned adjacent the belt material; the upper and lower membersof the fastener body having a gap therebetween that permits the cable toextend longitudinally between and spaced from the upper and lowermembers; a stop of the connector arranged to block movement of the crimpand cable fixed thereto toward the ends of the upper and lower membersin the gap between the upper and lower members; and the upper and lowermembers of the fastener body are sized to provide a longitudinal spacingbetween the ends of the upper and lower members and the crimp so thatthe cable has a strain relief length between the ends of the upper andlower members and the crimp; wherein the crimp includes a pair of crimpsand the stop includes a pair of stop surface portions spaced laterallyfrom one another to contact the crimps.
 21. A fastener for a conveyorbelt end having a longitudinal cable embedded in belt material, thefastener comprising: a crimp configured to be secured to the cable; aconnector including a fastener body having an upper member and a lowermember; ends of the upper and lower members for being positionedadjacent the belt material; the upper and lower members of the fastenerbody having a gap therebetween that permits the cable to extendlongitudinally between and spaced from the upper and lower members; astop of the connector arranged to block movement of the crimp and cablefixed thereto toward the ends of the upper and lower members in the gapbetween the upper and lower members; and the upper and lower members ofthe fastener body are sized to provide a longitudinal spacing betweenthe ends of the upper and lower members and the crimp so that the cablehas a strain relief length between the ends of the upper and lowermembers and the crimp; wherein the cable has an outer diameter and thelongitudinal spacing is a distance at least twice the outer diameter ofthe cable.
 22. A fastener for securing to a conveyor belt end having acable, the fastener comprising: a crimp configured to be fixed to thecable; a fastener body including a longitudinally extending upper plateportion, a longitudinally extending lower plate portion, and a loopportion connecting the upper and lower plate portions; apertures of theupper and lower plate portions; a stop body configured to fit betweenthe upper and lower plate portions of the fastener body and abut thecrimp to resist movement of the crimp longitudinally away from the loopportion; an attachment member configured to extend through the aperturesof the upper and lower plate portions and clamp the upper and lowerplate portions to the stop body; and a stop of the fastener bodyarranged to be in interference with the stop body to resist movement ofthe stop body longitudinally away from the loop portion with the upperand lower plate portions clamped to the stop body.
 23. The fastener ofclaim 22 wherein the stop includes stop surfaces of the upper and lowerplate portions configured to contact the stop body and resist movementof the stop body longitudinally away from the loop portion with theupper and lower plate portions clamped to the stop body.
 24. Thefastener of claim 22 wherein the stop body has a through opening sizedto permit the cable to extend through the through opening of the stopbody with the crimp adjacent the stop body.
 25. The fastener of claim 22wherein the stop includes at least one mating projection and recess ofthe upper and lower plate portions and the stop body that inhibitmovement of the stop body relative to the fastener body.
 26. Thefastener of claim 22 wherein the stop body includes a through openingthat is aligned with the apertures of the upper and lower plate portionswith the stop body fit between the upper and lower plate portions; andthe attachment member extends through the apertures of the upper andlower plate portions of the fastener body and the through opening of thestop body.
 27. The fastener of claim 22 wherein the apertures of theupper and lower plate portions includes a pair of apertures of each ofthe upper and lower plate portions, and the attachment member includes apair of attachment members that each extend through one of the aperturesof the upper plate portion and one of the apertures of the lower plateportion.
 28. The fastener of claim 22 wherein the upper and lower plateportions include an inboard end of the fastener body and the loopportion includes an outboard end of the fastener body, the fastenerfurther comprising: a rigid spacer configured to fit between the upperand lower plate portions of the fastener body longitudinally inboard ofthe stop body and inhibit movement of the upper and lower plate portionstoward each other.
 29. The fastener of claim 28 wherein the apertures ofthe upper and lower plate portions includes a pair of apertures of eachof the upper and lower plate portions and the attachment member includesa pair of attachment members that each extend through one of theapertures of the upper plate portion and one of the apertures of thelower plate portion; and wherein the rigid spacer includes a throughopening that receives one of the attachment members.
 30. The fastener ofclaim 22 wherein the cable includes a pair of cables and the crimpincludes a pair of crimps each configured to be fixed to a respectivecable; and wherein the attachment member extends through the aperturesof the upper and lower members and the through opening of the stop bodylaterally between the cables.
 31. The fastener of claim 30 wherein theconnector further includes a rigid spacer distinct from the fastenerbody and sized to fit between the upper and lower members laterallybetween the cables.
 32. The fastener of claim 22 wherein the stopportions of the upper and lower plate portions include laterallyextending ridges.
 33. The fastener of claim 22 wherein the attachmentmember includes a bolt and a nut.
 34. The fastener of claim 22 whereinthe stop includes portions of the upper and lower plate portions.